The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the Indian Premier League 2026 Auction will take place on 16th December, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
The player retention window for the IPL 2026 closed on November 15, 2025, with all 10 franchises confirming their retained, released and traded players ahead of the auction.
Check: IPL 2026 Auction Complete Player List
Across teams, a total of 173 players have been retained, including 49 overseas players. A combined purse of ₹237.55 crore will be available at the auction for a total of 77 player slots.
Also Read: Check where to watch IPL 2026 Auction
With each team allowed to have a maximum squad of 25 players, Punjab Kings have opted to retain 21 players, the most among the 10 franchises, while Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans have retained 20 players each.
Also Read: All you need to know about IPL 2026 Auction
Heading into the auction, Kolkata Knight Riders will have a purse of ₹64.3 crore, the largest among the group, to fill a maximum of 13 slots with six overseas spots available. Chennai Super Kings will have the second-biggest kitty of ₹43.4 crore to fill a maximum of nine available slots.
The table below provides a team-wise breakdown of squad sizes, available player slots, and the remaining salary cap for each franchise:
| Team | No. of players | Available slots | Overseas slots | Purse left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KKR | 12 | 13 | 6 | ₹64.3 crore |
| CSK | 16 | 9 | 4 | ₹43.4 crore |
| SRH | 15 | 10 | 2 | ₹25.5 crore |
| LSG | 19 | 6 | 4 | ₹22.95 crore |
| DC | 17 | 8 | 5 | ₹21.8 crore |
| RCB | 17 | 8 | 2 | ₹16.4 crore |
| RR | 16 | 9 | 1 | ₹16.05 crore |
| GT | 20 | 5 | 4 | ₹12.9 crore |
| PBKS | 21 | 4 | 2 | ₹11.5 crore |
| MI | 20 | 5 | 1 | ₹2.75 crore |
